MORCHARD Bishop may be a small village with a population of about 1,000, but it has a vibrant community and school, including a community living together at Beech Hill.

On Sunday, May 7, from 12 noon to 5pm, there will be an Open Day at Beech Hill, organised by an education charity, Devon Development Education (DDE).

Morchard Bishop C of E Primary School has links with Kasaana Public Primary School, in rural Uganda, with a focus on food growing.

The head teacher at the Ugandan school, Florence Namazzi, visited the Morchard school for two weeks in June 2015 and two Morchard Bishop teachers paid a return visit later that year.

DDE supports this link, and has brought other Ugandan visitors to the school.

Julius Tumwebaze, a Ugandan small-scale farmer and pineapple grower with 35,000 pineapple plants, attended the official opening of the school garden in 2014.

There will be more information about Uganda and DDE at the Open Day.

Beech Hill’s energy efficiency installations and organic vegetable beds will also be on show.

The international theme will continue with Thai coconut soup and rice being served for lunch, prepared by Thai students at Exeter University; Shiatsu massage taster sessions; hair braiding and face painting; Fairtrade Ghanaian chocolate activities and (it is hoped) a Trinidadian-style steel pan performance, plus other live music, all afternoon.

More conventional activities will include: Forest School activities, Devon cream teas and cakes, a Teddy Bears’ Picnic (at 4pm), stalls and games.

Sue Errington, DDE co-ordinator, adds: “I am sure we are going to have a wonderful day. I have been so impressed by the friendliness and co-operation of the different groups in the Morchard Bishop community – the school, the sports club, the Over 60s club, the WI and Morchard Maids and the Memorial Hall.

“And many children and adults have fond memories of the visits by both Florence and Julius. I look forward to many interesting discussions on May 7.”

Tickets (on the gate): Adults £3, children under 16 years free.

Profits from the day will go to the charity, Devon Development Education.

Alan Quick